South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

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The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One


Private 10655 Hollis TAYLOR - 10th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment

Killed in action on Sunday 30th July 1916 aged 27


Military History

     
Theatre of War in Which Died Campaign Medals Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France & Flanders 1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medals Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval
     
First Arrived in Theatre Bravery & Conduct Medals SWFHS Area Memorials
21 Aug 1915 in Havre, France ~ Ansley War Memorial
    Merevale War Memorial Plaque 
Action, Battle or Other Reason Died Date and Place Enlisted  
Battle of the Somme January 1915 in Atherstone  
     
Place of Death Previous Regiments or Units Other War Memorials   
Le Petit Bazentine ~ ~
     

Circumstances of Death

Hollis is listed as being killed in action on 30 Jul 1916 during the Battle of the Somme at Delville Wood. The war diary for the day is transcribed below:
 

Becourt Wood - 29 Jul 1916: The morning was spent in cleaning up the camp. At 2.45pm the Battalion moved off to take over the line. B & C Coys took over the front lines and A & D Coys the support lines in which were Battalion HQ. At times the shelling was uncomfortably hot. 

Trenches - 30 Jul 16: During the night of 29th/30th a patrol went out to ascertain the amount of wire the enemy had in front of his line. The patrol returned safely and reported that the wire was well cut.

Zero hour was fixed for 6.10pm and there was to be an intense bombardment for one minute at 6:09pm as a matter of fact there was heavy shelling by both sides for quite one hour before the assault which rather upset things.

At one minute to zero the Coys, who were now all in the front line, crept out under the barrage, B&C making the first line A&D Coys the 2nd line. A, B and C Coys reached their objectives D Coy were stopped halfway by heavy M.G. Fire and lack of officers (casualties). Nevertheless they were led up into the line later.

Meanwhile urgent messages came down to Batt HQ for reinforcements and more munitions. The H.Q Coy was then sent out to support and the Coys began consolidating. About 20 prisoners were taken and a machine gun, the majority of the prisoners being killed by their own shell fire together with their escort on the way back.

The S.W. Borderers then went up and the communication trench was dug back to our original line. The Batt got into touch with the Kings Own Regt on the right but had no one on our left as the 10th Worcesters had failed. We were in fact the only Batt in the Bde who had gained their objectives. The shelling all through was very severe.

Trenches - 31 Jul 16: In the morning B & C Coys were withdrawn from the new line and two Coys of the S W Borderers took their place. The Battalion bombers were also relieved by the Cheshire bombers. 

In the afternoon the Battalion was relieved by the Royal Scots. The relief was completed at 8pm and the Battalion marched back by Platoons at 200 yard interval to bivouac near the Transport field S of Becourt Wood.


 
 Personal & Family History

 

Birth Date/Place Baptism Date/Place
Apr-Jun Qtr 1888 in Bentley 27 May 1888 at Shustoke with Bentley
   
Parents Names Abode
Henry and Caroline Taylor Sandy Lane, Bentley 
   
Wife and Marriage Details Children
Florence Edith Taylor nee Harvey             Hollis Henry b 27 May 1911;  Reginald b 9 Jul 1912
16 Jan 1911 in Shustoke Doris May b 7 Nov 1914
   
Schools Colleges
  ~
   
Address History Employment History
1888 - Bentley 1901 - School age
1891 - Ridge Lane, Merevale 1911 - Miner - Filler at Ansley Colliery
1901 - Sandy Lane, Bentley  1914 - Miner at Ansley Colliery
1911 - Birchley Heath, Ansley  
1916 - Ansley Chain, Ansley